Lethal Legacy (Lethal Legacy - Mastery)

Member Name: Frankingsteins

Product:	Lethal Legacy - Mastery
Date:	10/01/09 (100 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: An uncommon delight.

Disadvantages: Nothing new or exciting here.

'Lethal Legacy' is thus far the only release from Canadian band Mastery, whose take on thrash metal is somewhat unusual in that it is entirely instrumental.

These kids brought up on Metallica and Megadeth have forsaken a vocalist, perhaps out of necessity but more likely as a creative choice, and although this makes them inherently more interesting as a curiosity, it can't help but make their music sound stilted and lacking. All of the songs collected here are really crying out for vocal accompaniment, especially ones such as 'No Tomorrow' which even seems to supply a gap for verses, making the whole thing feel like a job that's only 80% complete.

This is entertaining, high-octane thrash metal performed energetically both in the studio and a live environment, and although the guitars are kept interesting, it never descends into the showy realm of virtuoso 'shred' metal. Mastery are playing a very old but enduringly popular sound, and it remains to be seen whether their next release will increase the stakes in terms of guitar showmanship, or simply chicken out and add a vocalist like everyone else.

Summary: Mastery's first E.P. (2005).